Page 37 of Atlas Uncharted

Ms. Shirley’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Is Kairi the girl you mentioned back in college? The one you liked?”

I hesitated, feeling the truth settle in my gut. “Yeah, she is.”

Ms. Shirley shook her head. “Atlas, you’ve been tangled in this for a long time. But whatever you do next, you have to think about the consequences. Don’t act on impulse. Think carefully.”

Her words echoed in my head long after I left the hospital. I couldn’t act recklessly, no matter how much I wanted to storm over to Kairi’s place and demand answers. This wasn’t just about me anymore—it was about Dion.

When I got home that night, the house was too quiet. I walked into the bedroom and immediately noticed that some of Ashlen’s clothes were missing. My heart raced—but it wasn’t from panic.

I moved to my office and found the safe open. The ten grand I had stashed in there was gone.

For a split second, I waited for the anger to come. But instead, I felt... relief.

Ashlen had taken the money, and she was gone—at least for now. That meant I had time. Time to think. Time to figure out my next move without her breathing down my neck.

Ms. Shirley was right. This wasn’t a moment to let my emotions lead. I had to be smart about this. I couldn’t afford to act out and ruin everything. If I reacted the wrong way—if I lost my temper—Kairi might do something drastic.

And I couldn’t risk losing Dion. Not now. Not when I had just found him.

Chapter 26

Atlas

I remember once, Kairi told me—while we were arguing about a book, I can’t even remember which—that fury lives in love.

She was meant to be a writer. She knew how to use words. She could make shit sound beautiful with them. Cut deep with them.

Now, surrounded by the life she built without me, all I could think was... she was right.

Fury lives in love.

It also lives in the bones.

In silence.

In the wait.

My leg bounced with two weeks of barely contained fury.

Ms. Shirley was back at Kairi’s father’s place. I knew they were keeping Dion for the night, and Kairi would be returning home alone. I had begged Ms. Shirley not to let Kairi or her father know what I knew until I had all the answers.

While no one was looking, I swabbed Dion’s cheek. I felt sneaky and underhanded doing it, but I couldn’t let Kairi lie her way out of this. I had gotten the results earlier.

As much as I’d prepared myself, seeing the words in black and white hit me harder than I expected. I had a son. Three years of missed birthdays. Three years of first words and first steps I hadn’t been there for. I’d been robbed of all of it.

I was here to take it all back.

Kairi’s front door clicked open. She reached for the light switch, and when the room brightened, she saw me sitting there. I saw a brief flash of fear, of guilt, before she tried to mask it. I had seen it before and just thought she was uncomfortable around me, but now I knew it was because she was lying. Her hand froze mid-air.

“What are you doing here?” There was guilt in her voice. In her posture.

I stood up slowly. Her eyes darted to the door, then back to me. I took a step toward her.

“You want to explain to me,” I said, my voice low, “why you didn’t tell me Dion was mine?”

Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. She looked caught—like a deer in headlights. I watched her try to pull herself together, but I wasn’t giving her the chance.

“And don’t lie. I have the results,” I said, and she dropped her head.

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